New Release in the can, though unpasteurized. the best hops from any mainstream Japanese brewer. A big surprise. Good saaz aroma and flavor, long-lasting bitter finish. Very nice summer thirst quencher with a lot of character. Malts are simple but sufficient. I hope Sapporo has turned around from "dumbing down" to "hopping up."

canned. glad to try a japanese beer with some hop character. clear golden, tangy, menthol hop aroma, some apricot sweetness and crisp bitterness. one of the better canned japanese macros

On tap at 2007 Yokohama Oktoberfest. Clear golden with a good sized head. Light hops, earth tones, and some citrus as well. Crisp, refreshing body. A nice light bitterness, earth, and citrus make up most of hte flavor. Enjoyable and refreshing, I wish it was easier to find.

Tap @ Brewery Museum Sapporo: A very nice approach to this style with a toasted walnut nose, some bright but gentle hop bitterness that follows through in the flavor. Not as malty in the mouthfeel as I like, but it did quite well for a pilsner, especially for a brewer of this size. The bitterness was bulls on though, and it was pretty tasty.

My Bottom Line:
This hop-heavy Pilsener’s herbal and citrusy rays shine brightly through the crunchy haystack, leaving plenty of their savoury bitterness to make you long for more. Oh, if all macros brewed beers like this!!!

Further Personal Perceptions:
-Creamy foam protects the clear pale blond.
-The lengthy herbal hop bitterness is just gorgeous.
-Prickly carbonation fits the style.
-Either this beer’s been rated by a few guys who really don’t appreciate the style, or this beer’s just not consistent.

On tap at Towers, Tokyo.